Welcome to Schyler Brown, Houston Audubon’s New Conservation Specialist!
We’re excited to introduce the newest addition to our conservation team. Schyler will focus on our community science and monitoring initiatives. He recently completed his MS degree, where he studied landscape ecology and remote sensing methods. He spent a lot of time in his undergrad birding, bird-banding, and contributing to…
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Beak of the Week – Northern Parula
Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) Family: Parulidae By Jon Piasecki, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician The Northern Parula is a tiny species of warbler that can be seen throughout the eastern half of the United States during the migration and breeding seasons. Adults have beautiful blue-gray wings, head and back, white eye-arcs,…
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Beak of the Week – Common Tern
Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) Family: Laridae By Carrie Chapin, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician Common Terns are a fairly regular sight along the Upper Texas Coast as they migrate through in the spring and fall. Their numbers here peak in April and October, but a few individuals stick around during summer.…
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Beak of the Week – Sandhill Crane
Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) Family: Gruidae By Jon Piasecki, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician Sandhill Cranes are the smaller of the two species of crane native to North America. This species looks similar to their relative, the Whooping Crane, but are much more abundant. In fact, Sandhill Crane populations have been…
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Beak of the Week – Rock Pigeon
Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) Family: Columbidae By Carrie Chapin, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician This week’s Beak of the Week focuses on the Rock Pigeon, a species often scoffed at by birders and city-goers alike. The Rock Pigeon is a charismatic, cosmopolitan species known to almost everyone due to its strong…
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Beak of the Week – Vermilion Flycatcher
Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) Family: Tyrannidae By Jon Piasecki, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician Vermilion Flycatchers are a beautiful species that stand out in their natural habitat. Adult males have a remarkably vibrant red crown, throat, and belly with black wings, back and eye patch. Females tend to be brown/gray with…
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Super Bird 57: That’s a Wrap!
Mary Anne Morris, Houston Audubon Education Director As the waning snow moon sank deep on the horizon, the first songs of the cardinal could be heard piercing the morning sky. The time had come for the annual competition that puts the B in bird and pits the birdwatchers from two…
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Bird-Friendly Backyards: Common Threats & Easy Ways to Help
By Carrie Chapin, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician Despite good intentions, many things placed in backyards can cause harm to birds, resulting in injuries or mortalities. For example, birds can get sick from dirty feeders, and cats and windows are direct threats that vastly affect bird populations. Here are some of…
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Beak of the Week – American Goldfinch
American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) Family: Fringillidae By Carrie Chapin, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician The American Goldfinch is a relatively common yet cute passerine whose flocks use many habitats, including neighborhoods, feeders, forests, fields, and edge habitats. Their range encompasses all of the contiguous U.S., though they do not breed in…
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World Wetlands Day: The Importance of Wetlands
By Carrie Chapin and Jon Piasecki, Houston Audubon Coastal Conservation Technicians Today (Feb 2nd) is World Wetlands Day – a yearly celebration of wetlands and their important contributions to ecosystems and human society. Wetlands provide food and habitat for thousands of species, filter water, and capture runoff to prevent flooding.…
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DIY Water Feature with Drip
By Adoriam DeWalt Hello! My name is Adoriam DeWalt and I am an Ambassador of Girl Scouts. I am working with Houston Audubon on my Girl Scout Gold Award to talk about the war on birds. I hope you find this information helpful as we try to be more bird-friendly!…
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Beak of the Week – Eastern Towhee
Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) Family: Passerellidae By Jon Piasecki, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician Eastern Towhees are a species of sparrow typically found throughout the eastern half of the United States. Their physical appearance is much different from many other “new world sparrows” that you may know. Adult males have a…
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Honoring Tom Greer with the 2022 Laura Singleton Exceptional Volunteer Award!
By Gabriel Durham, Volunteer Manager Each February, Houston Audubon hosts a Volunteer Picnic to present the annual Laura Singleton Exceptional Volunteer Award and celebrate the collective contributions of our valued volunteers. To best understand the award, it is good to understand the contributions of Laura Singleton herself. Lauded as the…
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Beak of the Week – Brown Creeper
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) Family: Certhiidae By Carrie Chapin, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician The Brown Creeper is a unique species as the only North American member of the tree creeper family. Brown Creepers are uncommon in southeastern Texas and can be found foraging in dead and dying trees, with a…
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DIY Pine Cone Bird Feeder
By Adoriam DeWalt Hello! My name is Adoriam DeWalt and I am an Ambassador of Girl Scouts. I am working with Houston Audubon on my Girl Scout Gold Award to talk about the war on birds. I hope you find this information helpful as we try to be more bird-friendly!…
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Introducing Wyatt Egelhoff, Coastal Sanctuaries Conservation Specialist
If you’ve visited any of the High Island Sanctuaries or Bolivar Flats in the past year, you may have run across our Coastal Sanctuaries Conservation Specialist, Wyatt Egelhoff. Wyatt started working for Houston Audubon as a Conservation Technician in December 2021 and then transitioned to doing beach-nesting bird stewardship in…
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Beak of the Week – American Wigeon
American Wigeon (Mareca americana) Family: Anatidae By Jon Piasecki, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician The American Wigeon is a species of dabbling duck that can be found throughout the United States on ponds, lakes, and marshes. These birds breed in the northwestern U.S., the western half of Canada, and Alaska. They…
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Beak of the Week – Pomarine Jaeger
Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus) Family: Stercorariidae By Carrie Chapin, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician The Pomarine Jaeger is a rare and fascinating seabird, the largest of the three jaegers. Field identification of jaegers can be difficult due to the high variation in their populations; however, Pomarine Jaegers are the most barrel-chested…
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Beak of the Week – Black Scoter
Black Scoter (Melanitta nigra) Family: Anatidae The Black Scoter is a medium-sized duck, but is the smallest species of the sea-dwelling scoters. Both male and females have a small and straight bill, although the male’s bill is also adorned with a bright yellow knob. These ducks occasionally occur in mixed…
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Beak of the Week – Common Gallinule
Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) Family: Rallidae By Will McDaniel, past Houston Audubon Conservation Technician The Common Gallinule is a species of rail which inhabits the Gulf Coast year-round, with its range extending to large parts of Central and South America. It can be recognized by its dark bluish-black plumage with…
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Beak of the Week – American White Pelican
American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) Family: Pelecanidae By Carrie Chapin, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician One of the largest birds in North America, the American White Pelican is a sight to behold. With the second longest wingspan of birds in the U.S. after the California Condor, and its fascinating bill, they…
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Welcome to Jesi Malowitz, Houston Audubon’s New Membership and Event Coordinator!
Please join us in welcoming our new Membership and Event Coordinator, Jesi Malowitz! Jesi Malowitz is a native Ohioan who has lived in Houston since 2004. Originally a 7th grade mathematics teacher, her two girls Eleanor (8) and Benny (6) have kept her very busy as a stay-at-home mom over…
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Beak of the Week – Bald Eagle
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) Family: Accipitridae By Jon Piasecki, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician Often recognized as a national symbol of the United States, the Bald Eagle has been the country’s national bird since 1782. Known for their bright white heads and tails and yellow bills, Bald Eagles can be found…
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Beak of the Week – American Robin
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) Family: Turdidae The American Robin is a large gray-brown songbird with warm, brick red underparts, darker head, and broken, white eye ring. Robins are the largest of North American thrushes and they offer a good chance to learn the shape of most thrushes. They have a…
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Beak of the Week – California Gull
California Gull (Larus californicus) Family: Laridae By Carrie Chapin, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician A California Gull, a rare visitor to southeastern Texas, was recently spotted at the Bolivar Flats Shorebird Sanctuary. Typically a western species, California Gulls breed in the northwest great plains and southcentral Canada. They are commonly found…
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A Birdy Holiday Gift Guide 2022
By Elaine Ross, Operations Administrator It is the gift-giving season again, and we are here to help you find those gifts for your friends and family! Our gift suggestions cover different interests, price points, and target ages. If you purchase any of our recommendations, post a picture on social media…
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Beak of the Week – American Avocet
American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) Family: Recurvirostridae By Jon Piasecki, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician Known for its long, upturned bill, the American Avocet is a wading bird that is commonly seen foraging in wetlands, salt ponds, mudflats and occasionally rice fields. This species breeds in parts of the western and midwestern…
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Beak of the Week – Burrowing Owl
Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) Family: Strigidae By Wyatt Egelhoff, Houston Audubon Conservation Specialist Perhaps one of the most recognizable owls, this terrestrial species is found throughout many of the open areas of the temperate and tropical Western Hemisphere. As its name suggests, this species spends much of its time in…
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Beak of the Week – Northern Shoveler
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) Family: Anatidae By Carrie Chapin, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician The Northern Shoveler is a unique species of dabbling duck found in wetlands across much of the world, including North America, Central America, Europe, parts of Africa, and Asia. Northern Shovelers breed in Alaska, Canada, the northern…
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Beak of the Week – Northern Harrier
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) Family: Accipitridae By Jon Piasecki, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician Northern Harriers are commonly seen gliding low over grassland and marsh habitats throughout most of North America. This species is known to be a year-round resident in parts of the midwestern and western United States. They expand…
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Beak of the Week – Brown Thrasher
Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) Family: Mimidae By Carrie Chapin, Houston Audubon Conservation Technician The songs and calls of the brown thrasher are some of the most delightful and confusing sounds to be heard in forests and hedgerows. The brown thrasher is a medium-sized, rusty-brown-backed songbird with black streaks on the…
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Beak of the Week – Belted Kingfisher
Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) Family: Alceninidae Belted Kingfishers can often be seen foraging along water bodies throughout North America. They are resident in the the continental United States, expanding their range into Canada in the summer to breed. They are also known to winter in Mexico and Central America, where…
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Beak of the Week – Pine Warbler
Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) Family: Parulidae Pine Warblers are yellowish birds with olive backs, whitish bellies, and two prominent white wingbars on gray wings. Adult males are the brightest; females and immatures are more subdued and can even appear gray-brown. No bird is more aptly named: it nests exclusively in…
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Welcoming the Return of Vicki Stittleburg – Houston Audubon’s Part-Time Environmental Educator!
A native of western Pennsylvania, Vicki Stittleburg moved to Texas after graduating from Westminster College with a degree in Biology. Initially planning on staying for only 1 year, Vicki has now lived in Texas for almost 2 decades and has no plans to leave the great state. Vicki worked with…
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Introducing Shelby Fletcher, Houston Audubon Environmental Educator!
Shelby started working at Houston Audubon this May after being a dedicated volunteer at the Raptor and Education Center. Shelby has a degree in Conservation Biology from LSU and just finished a seasonal naturalist position at Lake Houston Wilderness Park. She worked previously as an Environmental Specialist both in Texas…
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Beak of the Week – Red-bellied Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) Family: Picidae The Red-bellied Woodpecker’s name is a bit misleading as the red patch on its lower abdomen is difficult to see in the field. This sleek, medium-sized woodpecker has a black-and-white barred back, red nape, and white patches speckled with black on its rump and…
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Welcome to Scott Jones, Houston Audubon’s New Operations Director!
Please join us in welcoming our new Operations Director, Scott Jones! Scott is a dedicated conservationist with a passion for protecting wildlife and the environment and for working in collaboration with others. He brings with him to Houston Audubon a love for people, enthusiasm for teamwork, and a broad range…
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Beak of the Week – Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) Family: Polioptilidae The Blue-gray Gnatcatcher is a tiny bird that can be easily identified by its buzz-like ‘pzzz’ call that it makes as it energetically flits about and hovers in treetops, pursuing insects to eat. As its name indicates, its body is of a blue-gray color…
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Beak of the Week – Caspian Tern
Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) Family: Laridae The Caspian Tern is the world’s largest tern at up to 2 feet in length and topping out at an impressive 5 foot wingspan, slightly larger than the Royal Tern, which it superficially resembles. Similar to other terns, the Caspian Tern sports a black…
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Why should I create a Bird-Friendly Space?
By Kathy Sweezey, Bird-Friendly Communities Program Manager Do you want to put your love of birds into action? Whether you have a large yard, school grounds, paved balcony, or no outdoor space at all, you can support birds by joining the Bird-Friendly Spaces Program. This program recognizes individuals who are…
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Beak of the Week – Wood Stork
Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) Family: Ciconiidae Wood Storks are large wading birds with long legs, a long curved bill, and a bald head and neck. They are mostly white with black flight feathers. Wood storks tower over most other wading birds standing over 3 feet tall. They often soar high…
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Purple Martins at Western Academy
by Isaac Block, Teacher, Western Academy It started in the summer of 2014 with an invitation to watch the Purple Martins congregate before their fall migration to South America. Mary Anne Morris, Houston Audubon’s education director, invited me to attend “Purple Martin Migration Madness” Watch Party at the Fountains Shopping…
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Beak of the Week – Mourning Dove
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) Family: Columbidae Mourning Doves are small gray-brown doves with black spots on the wings and a long, thin tail. In flight they show their long tapered tail with white tips. Mourning Doves get their name from their soft, drawn-out coos which sound like laments. Inexperienced listeners…
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Beak of the Week – Purple Martin
Purple Martin (Progne subis) Family: Hirundinidae Purple Martins are the largest member of the swallow family in North America. Adult males are iridescent, dark blue-purple overall with brown-black wings and tail. Females and immatures have dusky throats, light bellies, and dull purplish-black upperparts. Purple martins have undergone a complete tradition…
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Beak of the Week – Eastern Wood-Pewee
Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) Family: Tyrannidae Eastern Wood-Pewees are a medium-sized grayish flycatcher with long wings and tail, short legs, two wing bars, and a peaked crown giving the head a triangular shape. From the front, you can see the sides of the breast are dusky gray with a lighter…
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Beak of the Week – Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) Family: Accipitridae Red-tailed Hawks are the most familiar and common large hawk in North America. Like other members of the genus Buteo, they have broad, rounded wings and a short, wide tail. Most Red-tailed Hawks are rich brown above and pale underneath with a streaked belly.…
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Beak of the Week – White-eyed Vireo
White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) Family: Vireonidae The White-eyed Vireo is a migratory songbird common throughout much of the eastern United States. Like other vireos, White-eyed Vireos are relatively stocky birds with a thick, straight, and slightly hooked bill. The White-eyed Vireo has a gray head, a pale throat, yellow flanks,…
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Why ‘Plastic-Free July’?
By Berri Moffett, Conservation Specialist, Houston Audubon Everyone wants clean water to drink and air to breathe. All of us want natural areas free from trash, rivers and streams to swim in and fish in, and beautiful beaches with turquoise waves. We also enjoy modern conveniences and safe food, medical…
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Beak of the Week – Summer Tanager
Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) Family: Cardinalidae Summer Tanagers are medium-sized, chunky songbirds with big bodies and large heads. They have large, thick, blunt-tipped bills. The strawberry-colored male Summer Tanager is the only completely red bird in North America. Adult females have olive-green upperparts and mustard yellow underparts. First spring males…
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Beak of the Week – Chimney Swift
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) Family: Apodidae Chimney Swifts are small, grey-brown birds found in Houston from March to October. They are best identified by their silhouette- slender bodies, round heads, long, narrow, curved wings and short, tapered tails. Their wide bills are so short that they are often hard to…
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